Permits are now available for mushrooms

Thursday

Sep 27, 2012 at 11:30 AMSep 27, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Matsutake mushroom season has started across two national forests within the Medicine Lake Highlands region of Northern California, according to a recent press release from the U.S. Forest Service.The Klamath and Modoc national forests began selling permits on Sept. 17. The last day for picking mushrooms is based on local conditions and may vary from district to district.Anyone intending to commercially pick mushrooms from national forest lands must first purchase a permit. Permits are issued to each individual picker."Incidental Use" or personal mushroom harvesting is allowed without a permit for up to one gallon per day with a five gallon per year limit per person. Individuals 18 years old or older picking mushrooms beyond the incidental use limits are required to have a permit to harvest mushrooms on a national forest. Those younger than 18 years old may harvest mushrooms under the supervision of someone 18 years old or older that has a valid mushroom harvesting permit.Permits are not valid on private lands or other national forests. Permits issued and purchased from the Klamath NF offices are valid only for the Klamath NF.In order to ensure the sustainability of mushroom harvesting, each permit may have additional conditions and restrictions. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to read and understand those conditions. Mushroom pickers are encouraged to contact a district office for additional information. Permits can be obtained from the following locations Monday through Friday.• Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District, Happy Camp, CA 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 493-2243. • Salmon/Scott River Ranger District, Fort Jones, CA 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 468-5351. • Goosenest Ranger District, Macdoel, CA 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 398-4391. • Doublehead Ranger District, Modoc NF. Tulelake, CA 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 667-2246. • Big Valley Ranger District, Modoc NF. Adin, CA 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 299-3215.

Prices for permits areas follows:• $20 for four consecutive days, maximum eight gallons;• $50 for 30 consecutive days, maximum of 20 gallons;• $100 for entire season, maximum of 40 gallons.Fire restrictions are in effect on both the Klamath and Modoc national forests. More information can be found regarding fire restrictions by calling the ranger districts listed or by visiting the website at fs.usda.gov/klamath (Klamath NF), fs.fed.us/r5/modoc (Modoc NF). "Please consider weather and road conditions when planning your route," the release stated. "Always let someone know where you are expecting to travel and remember there are areas that do not have cell phone coverage." Careful trip planning is important to have a safe and productive day, the release warned.For more information, please contact Anne Mileck 841-4419.